A mono-green tribal elf deck with some hydras thrown in for a more enjoyable gameplay experience. The main point of the deck is to have a Primordial Hydra on the battlefield by turn 2 using either Elvish Mystic or Llanowar Elves on turn 1, and by turn 7 at the latest it will be lethal at 32/32 with trample. Cards like Kalonian Hydra and Immaculate Magistrate can speed up the Primordial Hydra. If you don't get a Primordial Hydra in your opening hand, it also functions as an elf tribal/green devotion deck. Here is a basic rundown of the most important cards:
Champion of Lambholt - Although it's neither an elf nor a hydra, this card is good at making your creatures unblockable. Since it gains +1/+1 counters, Kalonian Hydra will make it really scary really fast.
Elvish Archdruid - This elf lord both effectively pumps mana and boosts elves all for three mana!
Elvish Mystic/Llanowar Elves - These cards are a must-have for elf decks. You can play these on turn 1 and have them pumping mana as early as turn 2.
Immaculate Magistrate - Another essential creature in this deck. For only 4 mana, you can start adding a crazy amount of counters on any creature once every turn. Combo this card with Copperhorn Scout to double it's ability. This card works great with Primordial Hydra and Joraga Warcaller.
Imperious Perfect - This creature boosts all elves while creating elf creatures for 1 mana. Perfect for raising your own personal army!
Joraga Warcaller - This might be one of the best elves in the game. Since elf decks are great at pumping loads of mana early in the game, this creature can be kicked a ridiculous amount of times. Every time you kick it, it gets a +1/+1 counter and gives all elves +1/+1. This card can be boosted with Oran-Rief, the Vastwood, and can make everything really powerful with the help of Immaculate Magistrate and Kalonian Hydra. In addition, since Joraga Warcaller is not a legendary creature, you may have more than one on the battlefield at once!
Kalonian Hydra - I checked the rules and yes, it's ability takes affect before combat damage. Since this deck is mostly about making small creatures huge with counters and Kalonian Hydra doubles the number of counters on every creature, what's not to love?
Primal Surge - With only 2 other nonpermanent cards in the deck (those cards being Genesis Wave and Overwhelming Stampede) this powerful sorcery is almost always an instant win. 10 mana is a heavy price to pay, but you could potentially play it as early as turn 4 with a perfect hand. It should be easy to bring out turn 6 with all of this deck's mana pumping creatures. You could build an entire deck around this card alone.
Primordial Hydra - One of my favorite cards in the game, Primordial Hydra is definitely among the scariest creatures ever printed. What sets it apart from the monsters like Emrakul, the Aeons Torn is that it can cost a fraction of the price (in terms of mana and money) and be just as effective. If you cast this creature turn 2 for 3 mana as I advised earlier, it will enter with a single +1/+1 counter. Turn 3? 2/2, not so bad. Turn 4? 4/4, still not a threat. Turn 5? 8/8, getting scarier. Turn 6? 16/16 with trample, possible lethal. Turn 7? 32/32 with trample, definite lethal. And if you manage to drag the game out to turn 12, you will have a 1024/1024. With. Trample. (I would like to note that the highest I have gotten a Primordial Hydra in a match was 2048/2048)
The Immortal Sun - A very powerful artifact for only 6 mana. Aside from being playable in any deck, The Immortal Sun also boosts creatures, reduces the cost of spells, allows you to draw an extra card at your draw step, and nullifies the loyalty abilities of planeswalkers. Although the planeswalkers ability might affect the Vivien Reid in this deck, I have never had both cards on the battlefield at the same time, so you don't have to worry about that. Speaking of Vivien...
Vivien Reid - Core Set 2019 created one of the most powerful green planeswalkers with Vivien. Her first ability is barely short of a Lead the Stampede and her second ability is a triple threat against flying creatures, all artifacts, and all enchantments. Vivien's -8 ability gives all creatures a boost in power and toughness along with vigilance, trample, and, best of all, indestructible! What a card!
If you have extra money to spend, I suggest throwing in some more expensive cards like Oracle of Mul Daya, Craterhoof Behemoth, Doubling Season, Cavern of Souls, or Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx. I do consider this deck semi-budget because you can probably find this deck for around $100 on TCGplayer.com, the $200 it says is for all near mint cards. You could take out some of the expensive cards like Primordial Hydra and Nylea, God of the Hunt to make a cheap elf tribal deck. If you don’t use Hydras, check out Santa’s Little Helpers (Budget Elf Tribal). Feedback and Suggestions are appreciated!
